The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09

river. IN Pike and Knox counties, where there
are vegetable survivors Of the sub-tropical peri
cd have mentioned-the cypress the cane and
the thorny sumach. C. DeBruler killed two
specimens of this snake, and A. Corn killed an
other, all near Winslow Pike county. but in diff
ferent neighborhoods. They were Of a mottled,
rusty yellow color above, copper-colored beneath
and clear white about and under the mouth.
All these venomous snakes" continued Prof.
Collett, ''are robust in FORM with heavy or large
extremity to their tail and sluggish in motion.
Snakes that are graceful, well proportioned, of
lively motion and small extremity are not poison
Gus, as. for instance. the garter snake and the
racer Not only are they non-posonous, but
they are beneficial, for the reason that they de-
stroy rats and mice ard noxious insects
''As to determining the age Of rattlesnake.
A yellow RATHER, for three years in captivity in
the Indiana State Museum, shed his skin twice
year, the two SEEDLINGS contributing to make
one button. So each rattle or button accurately
measures the age. Each succeeding rattle Is
larger until maturity and up to fourteen years.
After that age there is no increase in the size OF
the snakes body or in the size of the additional
buttons, and all added after that time are of the
same size. This is the observation of Mr. Har-
vey, of Rainstown, in many cases. In moving
over rough or rocky ground the ratties are often
worn on the lower side-sometimes worn through
and occasionally one more buttons are lost
Poisonous snakes have two prominent hooked
fangs at the front of the upper jaw, with minute
ducts through which the poison, by tension of
the fangs is driven through into the wound. 1t
is we'll known fact that the fangs are inserted
upon cartllages, and not by sockets and there
fore bend back allowing the snake to swallow
food. When angry or excited these are erected
somewhat rigdly, ready for battle Snakes are
liable to have these fangs broken off, and this,
indeed, frequently occurs Mr.. Harvey says
fostering sore is aroused and one OF the four
rudimentary fangs before covered by the
flesh OF the jaw, begins to grow and takes the
place of the lost fang. This bit of information
may be of benefit to side-showmen who handle
III &c. h~xv
been extracted. When the rattlesnake is
alarmed, he takes the defensive coilng himself
up with the head in the center of the coil, and
when he springs he doesn't go anything near the
distance most people think-in fact little more
than half his length Most persons think rat
tier jumps eight or ten feet, but, of course, that
is foolish mistake.
1.-THE late Col. Philip Hornbrook, of Evansville.
saw two enormous blacksnakes once engage in
battle. These snakes are constructors and nom
poisonous. AT first they circied about each
other at respectful distance narrowing the circle
until finally they embodied each other in their
writhing coils, each striving to choke his an:ago-
mist. It was a battle to the death. AS they
Missed at each other, the observer remarked a
pungent, sitting smell. After long struggle
one was choked to death, the other crawling
slowly away. What part the atrocious
breath that each blew out upon the other had
in deciding the battle there was no way Of de-
termining.
''Snakes hibernate in the cold months, venom
Gus and non venomous herding together. They
frequently utilize fox den or a ground hog.
hole. They gather at such point every year
but the favorite place is small cavern or crevice
in the rocks where protected from moisture.
They cluster in solid, knotted pile, and stay SO
during the winter in entire harmony. AS cold
toward such a point for of eight or ten
| miles around. In the spring they may be seen
| going out towards their old haunts. Several
such winter quarters have been broken open
and found to contain hundreds of snakes of
different kinds. A grounding snake den has
been known to exist, occasionally disturbed, one
mile north of Eugene, in Vermillion county, this
| State; two caverns were known in Pike and Du-
hois counties. The one in Pike county, near
Pleasantville invaded by Peter Ferguson and
his friends was one of their most noted resorts.
| The invaders dug them out in the winter and
when they were slightly warmed by the sun
| threw them into the snow. where, after
few wrigglings, they were benumbed and
offered no resistance to the death blow.
The snakes were of several kinds--some venom
Gus, others harmless. An attack was made on
! the winter quarters of snakes at McGregor's hill
in the same county, a half mile distance from
the place have just named, where many snakes
we're found and killed. Peter Ferguson during
his lifetime, killed in that vicinity rattlesnake
having twenty nine rattles and button, indi
eating his age to he thirty years. monster Of
| this species, killed in 1871 near Pleasantville,
weighed fifty pounds"
! 'Snakes are more largely endowed with the
! reasoning instinct than many persons like tt
admit. W. B. Seward, State-house Commits
sioner says he saw, at Ellettsville, a water
snake pursue and catch catfish. It caught the
fish, which was fully four inches long by the
middle OF the body At first his snakeship ap
| peared greatly puzzled. He could not swallow
the fish crosswise, but, after some thought, h,
swan to the shore, carrying the fish to dry land
and with grim patience waited for his victim t.
die. Mr.. Seward being more practical than sci
entiic. did not wait to observe the conclusion o
this exhibition of snake reason, but attacked tn
wrigeler which escaped, fish in mouth, into thu
brook. Snakes are usually symmetrical, but
have now In my possession gartersnake, cap
tured near Summit Grove, with two heads OF
one neck